5 Shamrock-Sized Ways to Secure Employment, jobs, gigs, cash from a 35 year job jumping Leprechaun
Happy St Patrick’s Day from your friendly neighborhood career-hopper. Over three-and-a-half decades I’ve gone from teacher assistant, substitute teacher, from training to tech support, now freelance writer to… well, whatever pays rent this month. And guess what? Every single leap felt like stepping on a leprechaun’s gold—terrifying, then suddenly lucky.
So if you’re staring at your LinkedIn today, wondering whether to stay or bolt, let Saint Patrick’s Day be your excuse. Here are five quick, green-tinted tricks I swear by—because luck isn’t magic, it’s just momentum.
- Wear green, but mean it.
Not the shirt—the mindset. Tell one person today: “I’m open to new gigs.” That’s your pot o’ gold. Ever since I graduated with 3 cheap college degrees I needed a lot of luck to compete against people from prestigious universities. - Kiss the Blarney Stone—aka your résumé.
Rewrite one line. Make it bolder. Mine used to say “managed classroom”; now it’s “turned chaos into cash flow.” Same job, better vibe. Luck loves confidence. - Hunt for rainbows, not rain.
After 35 jumps, I stopped chasing “stable.” I chased “interesting.” Ask: Does this role spark? If yes, apply. If no, scroll past. Life’s too short for a traditional gig. - Buy a coffee for someone ahead of you.
Networking isn’t LinkedIn—but I have treated many potential employers and clients with coffee, lunch or dinner because you never know a phone call a text message that leads to a lucky legal money making machine. - Dance like nobody’s watching (but actually, someone is).
Every career switch? I did a little jig—literally—before hitting “submit.” Sounds dumb. Works. Endorphins + optimism = better interviews. Try it tomorrow. I lived through the Reagan Recession of the early 1980s when unemployment was 11% or higher then a series of recessions and felt lucky for every job.
So raise a pint (or a green smoothie) to the next leap. Thirty-five years in, I’m still landing on my feet. You will too.
Sláinte—and good luck. Career Hopper, Shamrock Collector with help from my AI leprechaun.
